Website Criteria:
1. clear, concise language
2. Age appropriate pages (adult, teen, kids)
3. Mobile friendly pages
4. Navigation is labeled well
5. Relevant content
6. positive mood (colors, images, font)
7. essential information is on main page and all internal pages (hours, location,contact)
8. social media links
9. search box on every pages
10. content is broken down into bullets or easily read sections
Overall, the web design of the Watertown Public Library is user-friendly and effective. The navigation is labeled with umbrella terms that are easy to understand across a diverse population. For example, the “What we Offer” tab includes pages for children, teens, museum passes, getting a library card, etc. Each page also has an internal navigation that makes finding information easier and allows for less content on the main pages. The content is broke down into small, manageable pieces of information instead of having lengthy paragraphs. The pages for teens and adults were designed for the parental audience instead of the children themselves. This was a smart decision because the parents are the ones that are going to be visiting the site and looking for information. There is a search box that stays in the same spot on each page which makes it easier for patrons to find it consistently across all pages. The location and hours is also located in the main navigation, across all pages, and is to the far left where users are apt to look first. The contact information can also be found across all pages in the same location. The mood of the site is energetic, vibrant and clear. The colors that were chosen (aqua and lime) convey a fun and cheery outlook. The design itself is fairly simple (white background, black text, minimal images, and simple logo) but it is effective because the layout is clear and user-friendly. The library also provides links to their Facebook and Twitter pages.
Social Networking for Information Professionals - INF506 